Shaking her head, Theresa said, “Why does that not surprise me?” She proceeded to add cream and sugar, checking with Kelsey to see when was enough. Then she screwed the lid on and handed it over.
“Thank you,” Kelsey said, touched beyond words. She took a sip and it was perfect. Because of course it was. Mug still to her lips, she asked quietly, “Can I see you again?”
Theresa just looked at her for a long moment before replying. “You can.” She sipped her own coffee, her eyes never leaving Kelsey’s, and something in that look made Kelsey’s stomach tighten.
At seven in the morning? Seriously, body? I am in so much trouble already with this girl...
“Good. When?” Kelsey asked.
Theresa set her mug down and pulled out her phone, scrolled through what Kelsey assumed was her calendar. “I’ve got late meetings today and tomorrow. This project is huge and it’s taking up a lot of my time.” She made a face that said she wasn’t happy about it, and that made Kelsey feel warm inside. “Friday?”
“I can do Friday.”
“Great. I’d like to cook you dinner. Would that be okay?” Theresa actually looked slightly hesitant, as if she was worried Kelsey would be all, “Oh, no, I’d rather you didn’t. That’s just silly.”
“I’d love that. What can I bring? And what are you cooking? And will you be wearing an apron? And nothing else?” Kelsey waggled her eyebrows lasciviously, which made Theresa chuckle.
“There will be an apron, but sadly, there will also be clothes.”
“Damn it.”
“I have a few ideas for dinner. I need to think about it and then I’ll text you Thursday to find out what you like and don’t like.”
“I like you.” The words were floating out in the air before Kelsey even realized they’d formed in her brain. She felt her face flush, her ears got hot, and she took a sip from her mug to try to mask the embarrassment.
“I like you, too,” Theresa said. Softly. Tenderly. The relief washed through Kelsey like a flood.
Their kiss goodbye was long and sensuous and amazing, a delicious display of push-pull, and Kelsey toyed with the idea of dragging Theresa back through the door, into the living room, onto the couch. Theresa pulled away first, before Kelsey could make any moves. She didn’t step out of Kelsey’s arms, but she pulled her mouth away, her hands still on Kelsey’s face, holding her, cradling her.
“You are an amazing kisser,” she said, kissed Kelsey once more—quickly—and stepped back a couple steps. “And if we don’t stop now, I’m going to be very late for work.”
“Understood. Sorry.”
“Oh, no. No apologies from you. I think my boss should apologize to me for making me leave all of this”—she gestured with one hand up and down Kelsey’s body—“gorgeousness.”
Kelsey was pretty sure she blushed all the way home.
***
Common Scents was busy for a Wednesday. Which was good, because it made the day go by a bit faster. Kelsey wanted Wednesday and Thursday and Friday afternoon to fly by, super quickly, so she could be with Theresa again. Like, immediately. In fact, she entertained the idea of just popping in on her tonight, just driving to her house after the store was closed and surprising her. Luckily, she was intelligent enough to understand how that could maybe be viewed as semi-stalkerish behavior, and she wasn’t willing to risk it.
What continued to amaze and bewilder her was how shockingly compatible she and Theresa seemed to be. At least physically. She had to add that little caveat because reality liked to pop its ugly face into Kelsey’s storybook fantasies and remind her how little time she’d actually spent with Theresa, how little they really knew about each other.
“So far,” Kelsey said aloud to her empty office. That would change. You always started a relationship not knowing the other person that well, right? Wasn’t that the nature of a new pairing? It had only been one date. Was she expected to be able to write a biography on Theresa now? Because that was lame.
And you couldn’t do it. The little voice again. That stupid little voice.
Kelsey spent the remainder of the day and into the evening taking care of paperwork, responding to e-mails, running the register while Jeanine took her break, and helping four different women choose the right scents for them. Honey Almond, Sugared Martini, The Jasmine in my Mind, and Autumn Hike, respectively. Jeremy had asked for the night off, so Kelsey hung out and closed. She tallied up the totals, smiled at the results of the day. Then she locked the front door, turned the lights to the “night” setting, gathered up her things and the garbage bag from under the counter, and headed out the back door.
As she walked toward the Dumpster the entire building used, she saw Jacob Kim heading in her direction. Jacob owned the dry cleaners next door to her shop.
“Hey, Jake. You’re working late tonight.”
Jacob opened the top of the Dumpster, tossed in his garbage, then held it for Kelsey. “No, just going through some papers. I assume you’ve been visited by the Wicked Rent Raiser of Westland?”
Kelsey grimaced. “I have. Can’t say I enjoyed her company all that much.”
“Yeah, no kidding.” He paused, looked up at the sky for a beat before saying. “I don’t think I can stay if she raises the rent by a lot.”
Kelsey nodded. “I know. I’m in the same boat. I don’t know where else I’d go. This was the best rental I could find for a business. I chose it purposely for that reason.”
“My father is livid.” Jacob had inherited the dry cleaners from his parents five years prior, and it had taken another three before his father had fully retired and let Jake run things on his own. “He says Mrs. Jenkins would never have done this.”
“I know.” She wanted to add that Mrs. Jenkins was beyond elderly and selling the building to her child wasn’t really something all that surprising, just dumb luck and bad timing for them. But she didn’t, because honestly, it was nice to have somebody else to commiserate with. Kelsey’s anger, worry, sadness...Jake got it, because he had them as well.
“I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop,” Jake said. “’Cause it’s going to.”
Kelsey nodded her agreement. “It is. Part of me likes that we’ve gone so long without contact. I can trick myself into believing she changed her mind and will keep everything as is. The other, logical part of me wants her to just get it over with so I can figure out my next steps and if I even have any.”
“I totally get that. Same thing goes on in here.” Jacob tapped a finger against his temple, then blew out a breath of what was most likely frustration. “Ah, well. It’s business.”
“It is.”
“It sucks and I hate it, but it’s business.” He made a face that basically said, “What can you do?” Then they said their goodbyes and went their separate ways.
Kelsey loved the length of the days in the summer. It was after nine, but dusk was just beginning to shift the sky toward night. She loved closing the shop and still having almost daylight left to get her home, and she drove with a smile on her face, despite the conversation with Jacob Kim.
Whatever happens, happens. There’s not a lot I can do about it.
The thought wasn’t terribly comforting, but it was realistic and realism always had a way of making Kelsey feel like she was on solid footing again. She really, really didn’t want to lose her shop, but it was a very distinct possibility, and if it was going to happen, she’d deal with it. She planned to do some research soon on other possible locations. She turned up the volume on the radio and hummed along as she headed home.
Once settled into her apartment for the night, Kelsey realized she hadn’t had much to eat that day. Her stomach made its dissatisfaction clear by causing sudden uncomfortable roiling, letting Kelsey know just how empty it actually was. She was just about to scramble a couple eggs when her phone dinged with an incoming FaceTime call from Chris.
“I’m propping you up on the counter so I can cook,” she informed her cousin by way of hello. �
��Hi there.”
“Hey, you. Whatcha makin’?” The background of Chris’s shot wasn’t her office as usual.
“Scrambled eggs. Are you actually home?”
“It’s ten thirty here, K-Pete. Even I don’t work that late.”
“Damn. I constantly forget the time change.”
“Constantly.” Chris chuckled, took a sip from a bottle of water. “What are your plans for the weekend? Specifically, Sunday.”
“Why? What’s happening on Sunday?” Kelsey used a fork to beat the eggs in a small glass bowl. She glanced at the phone’s screen before opening the fridge for milk.
“It’s very possible that your favorite cousin might need you to pick her up from the airport.” Kelsey squealed in delight. Literally squealed, which made Chris laugh. “Wow, you sure know how to channel your inner three-year-old.”
“Are you really coming?”
“If I wasn’t already on my iPhone, I’d show you my confirmation e-mail from the airline.”
“I can’t wait to see you!”
“You’re sure it’s okay?” Chris ran a hand through her short hair, wrinkled her nose. “It’s really last minute, and I’m sorry about that.”
“Don’t be sorry. Of course it’s okay. I’m so happy you’re coming to visit. How long can you stay?” Kelsey moved a pat of butter around the hot frying pan until it melted completely, then poured the beaten eggs and milk in. Surprised to find she actually had bread left, she popped two slices into the toaster.
“At least until Tuesday. Possibly longer.”
Kelsey pursed her lips into a pout. “Two days isn’t very long.”
“I know. But I said possibly longer. We’ll see.”
Kelsey squinted at the screen as she scrambled her eggs. “You’re hiding something,” she said, and saw Chris’s cheeks tint pink.
“I’m not hiding anything. I’m just...sitting on it for a bit.” Chris bit down on her bottom lip.
“You’re seriously not going to tell me? But you tell me everything! I’m going to have to rethink this entire relationship now. Thanks a lot.”
Chris’s chuckle came over the phone’s speaker loud and clear. “I’m going to tell you, Kelsify, just not yet.”
“Fine. Then I won’t tell you my news.” She stuck her tongue out at the tiny Chris on the screen.
“Yes, you will. You’re bursting with it. I can see it on your face. You can’t not tell me.”
Kelsey made a sound of frustration because Chris was absolutely right. Kelsey was dying to tell her about Theresa. “I hate you sometimes. You know that, right?”
“I do. It’s okay. Now tell me what’s going on?”
Kelsey scraped her eggs onto a plate, buttered her toast, and set everything on the counter near the phone so she could talk to Chris and eat at the same time. She took a bite, chewed slowly.
“Aw, come on!” Chris glared at her, which Kelsey found endearingly amusing.
“I didn’t sleep here last night.” Boom. She left it right there and watched Chris’s face.
“Get out.”
“Totally serious. I slept at Theresa’s.”
“Wait. What? Who the hell is Theresa?” Chris’s eyebrows shot way up into her hairline as her eyes widened in shock.
“Theresa is Lisa.”
“Lisa.” Chris squinted, then said, “The Starbucks chick?”
“That’s the one.” Kelsey wasn’t sure why she hadn’t mentioned her actually meeting “Lisa” at Hannah’s. It had all happened so fast, cliché as it sounded. So she began at the beginning and told Chris all of it. Everything. Reiterating the first meeting in Starbucks, then on to the online dates to the spectacularly unexpected meeting at Hannah’s house. And her relationship to Hannah, of course, as well as Hannah’s less than favorable reaction.
“Are you making this up?” Chris’s expression was dubious. “’Cause this is like a damn romantic comedy, and it’s also the first time you’re mentioning that the dream woman is an actual woman you’ve actually spoken to. Are you bullshitting me?”
“I promise you I’m not. Do you want to hear the rest? Or would you rather just whine and complain?”
Chris glared at her through the phone. “The rest, please.”
“All right then.” Kelsey went on with the story. The talk on the front porch at Hannah’s house. Dinner at Rinaldi’s. The pool.
“She has her own pool?” Chris said, obviously impressed.
“She does. And we had sex in it.”
“What?” Chris asked, loudly. “Now I really think you’re bullshitting me. My favorite cousin won’t even skinny dip, let alone have actual sex in a pool.”
“I know, right?” Kelsey’s voice had the same level of incredulity that Chris’s did. “I wouldn’t believe me either.” She put the last bite of eggs into her mouth and chewed. “But it’s true. And holy shit, Chris, it was so good.” She closed her eyes as she stressed the last two words.
Chris seemed to take time to absorb the story, all the details Kelsey had given her. “Huh,” she said finally.
“What does that mean?”
“It means I believe you because...that dreamy look on your face tells me this girl is real. And that she’s got a hold on you.”
“She does.” Kelsey dropped her chin into a palm as she leaned on the counter. “Which is very, very unlike me.”
“It is and that’s the only thing that’s got me worried for you. You don’t fall easily. You’re a tough nut to crack. And this girl seems to have cracked you on the first try.”
“I know.”
There was a moment of quiet as the two of them simply looked at each other through the small screens of their iPhones.
“Will I get to meet her?” Chris finally asked.
“I’d really like that,” Kelsey said, and she meant it. “She’s cooking me dinner on Friday night. I don’t know what the plans are, if any, on Saturday. I have the shop, as always. And then you come on Sunday. Maybe we can all have dinner on Monday or something?”
“I’d be up for that. I’ll follow your lead. I just want to spend time with you and I want to meet this person who’s swept my little cousin right off her feet. Face-to-face.”
Kelsey felt a warm surge of love for Chris then, for her protectiveness and desire to keep her safe. She wasn’t sure how Theresa would feel about meeting family members already. It was so early in all of this. “I’ll talk to her on Friday. See how she feels about it.”
“And how are things with Hannah?” Chris asked. “You having a fling with her sister can’t be sitting well with her.”
“Yeah, I’m sure it’s not.” Kelsey picked up her plate and turned her back to the phone so she could set them in the sink. “I haven’t talked to her.”
“Recently?” Chris asked. “Or since?”
“Since.” Kelsey grimaced as she waited for the scolding. Which came immediately.
“You haven’t even called her? Come on, Kels. You’re better than that. She’s been really great to you. You owe her at least an attempt at reconciliation.”
“I know, I know. You’re right.” And she was. Kelsey was well aware that she should be making the effort, not waiting around for Hannah to eventually call or text. Because she probably wouldn’t. Kelsey had chosen her sister over her. And even though that was a gross overgeneralization that left out a lot of important detail, that’s how Hannah would be looking at it. And Kelsey knew that. “I’ll try to get in touch with her tomorrow.”
“That’s all I’m asking. The trying part.”
They chatted for a few more minutes, but Kelsey hit the wall all of a sudden and after her third yawn, Chris smiled.
“You know, it’s an hour later for me. I’m the one who should be yawning.”
“I’m sorry, Chris,” Kelsey said, a hand over her mouth. “I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night.” She arched one eyebrow to punctuate the comment.
“Sure, rub it in,” Chris said, but her eyes sparkled. “Good for yo
u, favorite cousin. I’m happy for you.”
“Yeah?”
“Absolutely. It’s been forever since you got laid. You needed it. Your nose has been scrunching up weird and you were getting cranky.”
“Hey!” Kelsey pointed at the screen and made a threatening face that only made Chris laugh.
“Get some sleep. I’ll text you the details of my flight tomorrow.”
“I can’t wait to see you.”
They signed off. Kelsey rinsed her dishes and put them in the dishwasher, the whole time looking at the recent events in her life through Chris’s eyes. It was no wonder she was worried. Concerned. Acting like a mama bear. Kelsey knew she’d be acting the same way if their roles were reversed. In fact, if Chris called and told her she’d met a woman she was insanely attracted to, went to one dinner with her, then slept with her that night, on their very first date, Kelsey would have an earful to give her. As it was, Chris had gone pretty easy on her.
She finished cleaning the kitchen, then headed to the bathroom where she brushed her teeth, washed her face, did everything she usually did before bed. Her mind was filled, of course, with Theresa. Visions of Theresa. Laughing. Flirting. Naked. Coming. Kelsey swallowed hard at the last one, wondering if they could do it again on Friday.
“No,” she said to her reflection. “I need to get to know her a bit more first. That’s the game plan. Talk. Then sex. Maybe. I mean, probably. Hopefully. Please can there be sex?” She stared at herself for an uncomfortably long time, studied her own face, her skin, her lips. She wondered what Theresa saw when she looked at her.
Once under the covers, Kelsey turned off the bedside lamp and stared at the ceiling. She was tired and just wanted to sleep, but Chris’s words about Hannah kept running through her mind on a loop.
You haven’t even called her? Come on, Kels. You’re better than that. She’s been really great to you. You owe her at least an attempt at reconciliation.
Guilt sat on her chest like an overweight cat. Chris was right, and Kelsey felt shame seep into her consciousness. What kind of friend was she? She knew how Hannah felt about her. She knew that her choosing to see Theresa would be hard on Hannah. Then a thought struck: did Hannah even know? And how was she to go about finding out? She couldn’t just ask Hannah outright. “By the way, you know I slept with your sister the other night, right? Amazing!” Could she even ask Theresa without it being weird? “So, how does your sister feel about us fucking in your pool?”
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